dscl
CautionQuery Directory Services
dscl . -list /Users
Reads/edits the local directory — UIDs, hidden users, group data; the low-level account inspector.
Examples
dscl . -read /Users/taro UniqueIDRead a user's UIDdscl . -list /Users UniqueIDAll users with their UIDsdscl . -read /Groups/admin GroupMembershipMembers of the admin groupsudo dscl . -append /Groups/admin GroupMembership taroAdd a user to the admin group
Syntax
dscl . -list /Users / dscl . -read /Users/<name>
Key points
- Users starting with _ are system accounts. Leave them alone.
- Regular user UIDs start at 501.
- It reads and writes the same data as Users & Groups in System Settings.
When it does not work
- A wrong write can lock a user out. Make sure another admin account exists before changing anything.
Before you run it
Writes can corrupt accounts.
Related commands
- sysadminctlManage macOS users
- dseditgroupEdit group membership
- getentQuery NSS databases
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